A newly installed pedestrian island on Rearsby Road in Queniborough, Leicestershire, has left the road too narrow for buses to pass safely without mounting the pavement. Arriva Midlands has withdrawn services 5 and 5A from the village. The junction upgrade was completed by developer David Wilson Homes, and local officials are meeting to discuss an urgent solution, while the county council provides a free taxi shuttle to nearby stops.
Summary headline: New traffic island leaves Queniborough road too narrow for buses
Choirmaster Gareth Malone has been reflecting on his upbringing in Dorset and the numerous musical opportunities in Bournemouth that helped shape his career. Ahead of bringing his new interactive tour, Sing-A-Long-A-Gareth: At The Movies, to the Bournemouth Pavilion, Malone recalled performing in his first professional gig there as a child, working in the venue's bar, and singing with the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus.
Summary headline: Gareth Malone reflects on how his formative years in Bournemouth shaped his music career
A social housing tenant in north-east England has spoken out after being called a 'tramp' and sworn at by a worker from his management company, Beyond Housing, captured via home CCTV. The incident followed months of complaints regarding severe mould and damp in his property, which he shares with his partner and asthmatic daughter. Beyond Housing has apologized, reopened its investigation after initially missing video evidence, and stated it takes reports of damp and mould extremely seriously.
Summary headline: Social housing tenant called a 'tramp' by housing worker says he felt worthless
Over 1,600 people have signed a petition to save New Parks Leisure Centre in Leicester after Leicester City Council launched a consultation on proposals to close the facility. The council states that New Parks is its least-used leisure centre, has a higher cost per visitor, and requires significant investment for maintenance, while nearby facilities like Braunstone and Leicester Leys can accommodate displaced users. Petition organisers argue the closure would leave a significant community void, though the council has emphasised that no final decision has been made yet and local fitness programmes could still be provided if closure proceeds.
Summary headline: More than 1,600 sign petition opposing the closure of New Parks Leisure Centre in Leicester
Three survivors of sexual abuse by Amar Ilyas have expressed outrage and disappointment after he fled to Pakistan while on court bail, avoiding his trial. Ilyas was convicted in his absence of 20 sexual offences against five girls in Sheffield, committed between 2004 and 2007 as part of the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood, and sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison. Victims questioned why he was permitted to keep his passport and called for legal changes to prevent sex offenders from absconding. The National Crime Agency stated it is making every effort to ensure Ilyas is brought before the court to serve his sentence.
Summary headline: Sheffield serial rapist flees to Pakistan while on bail, leaving survivors feeling betrayed
Blind and visually impaired users of smart glasses are concerned that a growing backlash and venue bans against the technology will exclude them and make them feel unsafe. While the devices offer life-changing independence for tasks like reading and navigation, public concerns over privacy and covert filming have led to restrictions in courtrooms, schools, pubs, and restaurants, as well as activist campaigns against the wearables.
Summary headline: Visually impaired people fear smart glasses backlash as venues introduce bans
The Bradford 10k is set to return next year under new organisers Jane Tomlinson's Run For All, taking over from Epilepsy Action after 18 years. The event has moved from June to a new winter date on Sunday 28 February, while retaining its traditional city centre route. Epilepsy Action will remain the lead charity partner for the race.
Summary headline: Bradford 10k returns under new organiser Jane Tomlinson's Run For All with a winter date
A new community space named The Island has opened in Oxford city centre to highlight the contributions of the Windrush generation. Located in a former Staples store on Park End Street, the free-to-access venue is running a trial period until 31 October featuring exhibitions, talks, music, workshops, and a reconstruction of a 1960s West Indian front room.
Summary headline: New African Caribbean centre opens in Oxford for Black History Month
The central structure of a mile-long 'green tunnel' for HS2 near Wendover, Buckinghamshire, has been completed after 18 months of work. Built using the 'cut-and-cover' method with 2,740 precast concrete segments, the northbound and southbound sections were joined when the final segment was installed.
Summary headline: HS2 'cut-and-cover' tunnel structure at Wendover completed
Voters in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency have shared their priorities and concerns ahead of the upcoming by-election, which is being held to select a new MP following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation in September. Fifteen candidates are contesting the seat. Local residents highlighted issues such as housing affordability, the cost of living, adult social care funding, council tax, local neighbourhood repairs, and national and international political concerns like climate change and the conflict in the Middle East.
Summary headline: Voters in Holborn and St Pancras share their views ahead of the by-election
A new community group, St Austell Shed, has acquired a dilapidated former parish store in Trewoon, Cornwall, to create a workshop aimed at reducing male isolation. St Mewan Parish Council is investing funds from a local wind turbine development to make the building weatherproof and reconnect utilities, while the group plans to raise £45,000 for internal renovations.
Summary headline: St Austell Shed community group secures derelict building for new workshop
Jon Dean, landlord of The Alma Tavern in Worcester, has closed his pub after seven years due to crippling costs, rising taxes, and changing customer drinking habits. He has urged the government to introduce further tax cuts for the hospitality sector to prevent more venues from closing.
Summary headline: Worcester pub landlord closes business and urges government support for hospitality
A Leicestershire Police officer, granted anonymity, has been sacked with immediate effect following a misconduct hearing after being found to have intentionally contacted a sex worker. The officer claimed he was searching online for a legitimate massage, but the panel rejected his explanation due to a lack of verifiable phone data and redacted bank statements. Chief Constable David Sandall ruled the actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Summary headline: Leicestershire Police officer dismissed for gross misconduct after contacting sex worker
Meg Stevenson, a 23-year-old from Albrighton, has successfully completed a half-Ironman race in Belgrade after starting the Couch to 5k running programme less than two years prior. Childhood kidney cancer left her with reduced lung capacity, and at 19 she lost her mother to cancer, stepping in to care for her younger brother. Despite these challenges and initial training setbacks, she finished the Belgrade 70.3 and now plans to enter more races.
Summary headline: Woman completes half-Ironman after overcoming cancer and personal challenges
The Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum has called on the City of London Corporation to address a gender imbalance in its blue plaque scheme, estimating that only three of the roughly 140 plaques in the Square Mile currently commemorate women. The forum has submitted a proposal suggesting new candidates, including the City's first maternity hospital, Eleanor Karr, and former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The City of London Corporation stated that its recently redesigned blue plaque scheme prioritises inclusivity and encourages nominations celebrating underrepresented groups.
Summary headline: City of London urged to increase blue plaques dedicated to women
The Oswestry and District Driving Instructors' Association has filed a formal complaint with Shropshire Council regarding poor road conditions, including severe potholes, worn-out give-way markings, and blind junctions that put learners at risk. Figures show Shropshire Council paid out over £1m in pothole-related claims between April 2020 and March 2025. Council leaders cited historical underinvestment, extreme weather conditions affecting tarmac, and a large road network, while confirming the complaint is being investigated.
Summary headline: Oswestry driving instructors complain over dangerous potholes and worn road markings
A serotine bat found with a fractured forearm in Witney, Oxfordshire, has been treated with pinning, antibiotics, pain relief, and laser therapy at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. Vets hope to release the bat back into the wild once it has fully recovered and regained its strength.
Summary headline: Serotine bat with broken wing receives laser therapy at Haddenham wildlife hospital
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has served a Section 77 notice on the owner of the former Wade Ceramics factory in Burslem, ordering urgent safety works after recent inspections found dangerous areas following an arson fire in April 2025. The Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1814 and has been vacant since 2010, requires the removal of impacted sections to protect the public, highlighting broader challenges regarding the preservation of historic buildings in the city.
Summary headline: Urgent safety works ordered at fire-hit former Wade Ceramics factory in Burslem
A decade-long project initiated by Jamie Richards has successfully placed over 50 defibrillators across Stone, Staffordshire, while his charity AED Donate has helped install 10,000 nationwide. Richards and fellow resident Joe Dean are preparing for a 20-mile charity walk on 16 October to status-check all the town's devices and raise £2,500 to maintain them for another year. The funds will cover replacement pads, batteries, and cabinets to ensure the life-saving equipment remains operational.
Summary headline: Decade-long effort installs 50 defibrillators in Stone as founders plan charity walk
Die 87-jährige Maricarmen Abascal, deren Zwangsräumung in Madrid landesweite Proteste gegen die Wohnungskrise in Spanien auslöste, ist gestorben. Ein Investor hatte ihre Miete drastisch erhöht, woraufhin sie aus ihrer langjährigen Wohnung evakuiert wurde und ins Krankenhaus kam. Obwohl sie kürzlich in ihre Wohnung zurückkehren konnte, kam diese Lösung laut dem Mieterverband zu spät. Die Ereignisse führten zu politischen Spannungen und der Ankündigung von Neuwahlen durch Ministerpräsident Pedro Sánchez.
Summary headline: Nach Zwangsräumung in Spanien: Rentnerin Maricarmen gestorben
